- my iParenting
- quick clicks
- grandparents today articles
- grandparents today q&a
- community & groups
- research baby names
- prepare a birth plan
- content channels
- ip channel rss feeds
- read birth stories
- read parenting stories
- recommended books
- e-newsletters
- safety recalls
- ip diaries
- ip store
- mom of the month
- dad of the month
- editor's letter
- letters to the editor
From Our Sponsors
- e-newsletters
- Sign up to receive our free weekly e-newsletters
- award-winning products
The iParenting Media Awards program helps parents find the best products for their families.
(At Grandma's) Home for the Holidays
Create Memories with Your Grandkids This Thanksgiving
By Jenn Director Knudsen
With equipment like Strom's – plus some glue, glitter, scissors, clay, paints, wood ornaments, even pinecones – you'll be set to keep kids occupied by helping them create a holiday decoration or even a gift for their parents.
Hoppe does this with her granddaughters, now 6 and 4. "Moms and dads love them," she says, referring also to her own daughter and mother of her granddaughters, MaryAnne Miller, 28.
"I make sure the year is on the back or front of the gift so it can be a memento," Hoppe continues. "As they are getting older I take them to the craft store to decide what they want to do. [A]s they paint or do glitter, the glitter everywhere is just fine. Amazing how perspective changes as a grandmother."
"I think cooking is a really neat thing to do," says Strom, who does so with her grandchildren and step-grandchildren. It's both fun and builds needed life skills, such as good listening and following directions.
Hoppe forgoes homemade sugar-cookie dough, opting instead for cookie mixes. This way, she wastes no time watching her granddaughters make a huge mess of her kitchen decorating cookies in holiday colors.
"Somehow icing and sprinkles everywhere is much cuter when grandchildren do it," she says. "Licking the knife is just fine and frosting on the nose requires a picture for Grammy's scrapbook."
"By providing a chance for grandchildren to help or perform, you underscore that you respect them and that they are an important part of the family celebration," Newman says. "If adult assistance is needed (such as making place cards), engage a relative they don't see regularly to get them started."
Want to see more?
Comments
There are no comments for this article yet.Be the first to 
|
Post As:
|
||
| Enter your comment below: | ||
| Title | ||
| Comment Text | ||
| CAPTCHA | ||
| Please note that any comments submitted become the property of Disney Family / iParenting and can be edited and posted at our discrection. | ||